Spotlight



Nov. 24, 1931. J, KY RUSSELL SPOTLIGHT Filed April 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

ATIORNEY.

" JOHN K. RUSSELL, or Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, `Assreivon. To Narie-NAL Aconssonrns Patented Nov. 24, 1931 VUNETED l STATES.

CORPORATION, OF LOS ANGELES, GALIFOIRNIJQ.,` A, CORPORATION 0F CALFORNIA.

` SPOTLIGHT Application led April 18,

This invention relates to the type of lights. which may be bodily moved for substantially universal direction of its rays and has among its objects tov provide a gear drive comprising a distant manipulative element whereby the lamp body may be selectively caused to revolve about avertical axis or a horizontal axis either by said distantY element or by force directly applied to the lamp bodv. Y

Another object is to provide simple, durable and inexpensive means, for mounting and moving a lamp body either by a distant manipulative control Yelement and distant gear drives for selective directional movements of the lamp body, which means includes elements providing for movementsof the lamp body by forces `directly applied without eiiect upon the gear drives.

An important advantage incident tothe structure of this invention is that breakage of parts, and particularly gear stripping, due to movements of the lamp body, by forces either intentionally or accidentally applied directly thereto, is eliminated. f

Another object is to provide a novel com# bination of parts whereby the circuit to the lamp of a spot light will be automatically extinguishedA during movement of said light through predetermined arcs.

Other objects, advantages and featuresof invention may appear from the laccompany-V ing drawings, the'subjoined description and the appended claims. y I

VThe accompanying drawings illustr'ate'the invention in a form I at present deem -preferable. Figure 1 is al 'perspective view of, a fragment of an automobileshowing' a lamp oit my inventiongas. mounted thereon and as operated by the driver.

Fig. 2 isl an elevation, on an enlarged scale and partly in section, of a'lamp mounting and gear drive constructed iny accordance with my invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation taken on line 3--3 of Fig.`V 2. i

F ig. i is a sectional plan view Ataken on line i of F ig. 2, showing on enlarged 192s. serial 110.270,884.

scale the master gear and the worm for vertical adjustment of thelamp.' l

Fig. 5. is a sectional plan view on the same scale as Fig. t and as taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2 showing the master gear and a part of the automatic lamp control.

F ig. 6 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 2 showing the gear selecting clutch.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 2 showing the gear lock and tensiony means for normally main,` taining horizontal adjustment of thelamp body. Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmental transverse sectional elevation taken on line 8 8 of F ig; 2 showing means forv varying the tension drive shown in Fig. 7.

Fig..9 is an Venlarged sectional plan view taken von line 9`9 of Fig. 3 Vshowing the gear and variable tension drive for vertical swinging of the lamp. body. l

Fig. l0 is a symbolic illustrationof the lamp and the several switches and a diagram of the wirings. Y

-FigQll is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing the mounting ofthe groundl brush to. the turret fixture.

Fig. 12 is a detail view of the ground vcontact plate.' Y 1 In the drawings the numeral l designates the spot light; 2-the spot light support; 3 the automobile body, and t the `instininent board, all of which are, or may be, oconventional design `and construction and except as com`-r bin'ed withA the device embodyingv my' improvements. form no partof my invention.

As best shown'in Fig. l, the support com prises an arm 5`which is'pivotally secured to a base iiXture 6 so that'the arm and light carried thereby may be vertically adjusted relative to the automobile body and as shown in Fig.A 2, the arm at its forward endvis provided with a cylindrical stub-shaft 7 about which the light may be rotated for its vertical truing. i

The device 8 of my invention comprises a body portion, or arm supported iixture 9, which is of substantially cylindrical shape and provided with a tubular extension l0 "rolf sa i for fitment over and rotary support upon the stub-shaft 7 of the supporting arm. VBy this expedient in connection with the setv screw 11, y

there is loosely fitted a floating ring gear 13.'

On the inner face of the fixture in the plane of the ring gear is an annular recess 14 for occupancy by an elastic band 15 that encircles the ring gear and-whose free ends are each provided with overlapping tails 16 one of which engages a shoulder 17 in the fixture to prevent bodily rotation of the band and the other of which is engaged by a set screw 18 seated in the fixture for Vvarying the tension of the band on the ring gear.

A turret fixture 19 having a collar 20 is fitted over and into the fixture'9 for normally free rotation therein and is secured against withdrawal upwardly therethrough by an assembly disc 21 which is secured to the collar of the Yturret fixture as by screws 22 and which rests against the ring gear. Surmounting the body proper of the turret and formed integral therewith is a head 23 of substantially cylindrical shape and whose axis is horizontal andat a right angle to the axis of the collar 20. n

Fitted Within the collar is a horizontal drive gear element 24 of cylinder formfor fitment in the collar and which is provided with an outstanding flange 25 for extensionbeneath the collar and through which fiange the recited screws 22 extend so that a rotationof Athe gear element, as by applied energy will effect rotation of the whole turret. Formed in the underneath face of the gear element is a recess in which a'trigger 26' is mounted and whichis acted upon by an extensible coil spring 27 to normally hold it to a position to engage and clutch into the ring gear 13.' V

Formed vertically through the gea-r ele-V ment 24 is a'bore 28, and formed through the Y:is

plate like body of the trigger is 'a hole 29 through which bore and hole there is a vertically slidable drive shaft 30, `havin g within its length a reduction forming a cam'31 for the actuation of the trigger against the tension ofV its spring 27. Y

In the upper inclined face of the horizontal driveY gear 24 there is formed an annularl rack 32 and in the upper'endof the drive shaft is a cross-bar having teeth 33 at its ends for engagement, at times, rwith the rack of the 'horizontal drive gear, Yand said drive shaft is provided with lateral slots 34 whereby the cross-bar is keyed to revolve with the4 drive shaft. I v

' A c'oil spring 35, as shown in Fig. 2, serves to provide afyielding connection between the` drive shaft and the cross-barl to allow slight movement of the drive shaft, as by a manual pull thereon, beyond the functional limit of f the cross bar prevented, l

The object of such mounting is to prevent breakage of any .parts due to the movement so that breakage of the bar is and manipulation of the reflector casing by persons tampering with the light from mov tives of curiosity or other reasons.

If the reflector casing is moved forwardly iny such a movement, the push is transmitted through a saddle or lamp supportingffixture 53 and pins 52 to a shaft 49 upon which is ittedlo'osely a worm-wheel 50. Upon both the shaft 49 and a collar V49a there is found apin, the one on 49l being shown as 60 in Fig. 2. The pins face in opposite directions.`

To each of the pins one of the coil springs 59 is attached by its ends, so that motion of the shaft 49 extends these springs by the ends thereof through the pins. Upon cessation of the push or pull, as the case'may be, the

spring affected exerts its recuperative power to pull the light back into its original position without Ydamage to-any ofits working parts. A A master gear 36 as shown 1n Figs. 2 and 3 is fitted into the collar 20 of the turret fixture andrprovided with a tubular nut4 37, whichk rests in bearings 38 formed in the horizontal drive gear. element andA which is provided with slots 39 which provide keying the master gear to the drive shaft. f

As best shown in Figs. 2 `and 4,3therev is formed in the one side of the turret fixture a fixed bearing 40 and formed diametrically opposite thereto is a recess 41 for 'the reception of a removable bearing block 42 in which a pinion 43 and worm 44-carried on a shaft 45, may be assembled and carried in operat-A ing position and retainedin such position as by a removable and adjustable spring clip 46. n

f The turret head 23 comprises a fixed cheek 47 and a removable cheek-48 in which the shaft 49 is revolubly supported. The worm wheel 50 which is fittedV for normal idling thereon, and which is caused to be rotated therewith by tension means comprising Y shoulder 51 on the shaft, the slip collar49a on the shaft for engagement with the wormr wheel in opposition to the shoulder and a pair of threaded journal pins 52 seated inthe ends of the shaft.

The saddle, or lamp supporting fixture 53 which has cheeks 54 provided with bearings 55, is slipped'over theturret head with lits .cheeks coinciding,lr with the cheeks ofthe turret head and is journalled or hinged thereto les provide for the attachment of the lamp body or barrel.

For carry-ing the lamp body in `equipoised, or balanced relation with the turret fixture, I provide an equalizer comprisingthe opposed springs 59 having their ends respectively .con-

nected with the turret head and with the pins which, as before described, radiate from both the shaft 49 and the slip collar, 49a. By preference and as shown, the springs are connected with the saddle, as by the adjustable blocks 61, whereby their tensions may be adjusted.

Secured as bv threading, to the body portionf9 is a base fixture 62 which is tubular and tapers downwardly for connection with a housing tube 63 which is for extension to a point conveniently accessible to the driver such as the instrument board shown. This housing encloses a flexible shaft 64: operatively connected with the drive shaft 30 and withv a knob 65 at the instrument board. A wire 66 is also extended through the housing tube for connection with a switch 67 adjacent the knob 65 and with a contact ring 68 fixed in the base fixture 62. p

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 1.0, there is a brush68a secured to the assembly disc 21 and a wire 69 iextends therefrom through suitable openings in the several fixture parts to the lamp. A return wire 7 O leads from the lamp to a ground brush 71 carried in the turret fixture, as shown in Fig. '3 for engagement with the top of a fiat ground ring 72 `carried on the body of the device.

As shown in Fig. 5, the ground ring has a dwell 7 3 which occupies a plane out of the path of the brush so that when the brush is moved thereover, the circuit is interrupted or broken and the lamp extinguishedy when a brush is interrupted by passing into the cut away portion 74a of a contact plate v74.

When the switch at the instrument board is closed, the lamp is continuously lighted except when the light is moved to cast its beam directly forward at which time the brush and dwell as described, break the cir.-

cuit. The contact plate 74 is secured so as to ro.- tate with the saddle, and the brush 75 is electrically connected with the described ground brush so as to extinguish the lamp when the lamp body is swung to a certain angle in its vertical movement in a manner similar tothe i described extinguishing means in connection with` the horizontal movements of the lamp body. Y

A plan view of the ground contact plate 74 is given in Fig. 12. It will be seen that the contact edge of this plate' is interrupted at 74a, as before mentioned.V The mounting of the contact plate when in use is shown in Fig. 11. As long as the ground brush 71 is in Contact with the metallicV brush plateli, the electric circuit for the spotlight lamp will be complete by reason yof the ground through the frame ofthe vehicle. Should the brush coincide with opening 7 4a, however, the brush will come in contact only with an insulating surface 76, through which no grounding vcan occur, and the lights `will `be extinguished while the brush remains in that position and the brush 7l is out of engagement Ywith the ground ring 72 by beingv moved into register with the .dwell 73. Y

When the lrnob, at the instrument boa-rd is pulled rearwardly and the drive shaft is depressed as shown in Fig. 2, the cross bar engages the teeth of the horizontal drive gear 13 and is in position to ,effect bodily .turning of the turret and of all the gear elements therein and thus to rotate the lamp body onits vertical axis without efect on the vertical drive gear. When the knob is pushed Vforward the cross bar is disengaged from the horizontal drive gear and a turning of the knob eiects only .a turning of theV master gear, and the worin gear of the vertical drive gear.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that the circuit to the lamp will be broken only when the arms 71-75 of the ground brush are moved out of engagement with the ground ring 72 and the contactplate 74, and that as long as either of said arms 71 or 5 is in en gagement with the ground ring 72 or the contact plate 74, the circuit to the lamp will beclosed. i

The ground ring 72 may be adjusted rela tive to the housing, and the contact plate 74 may be adjusted about the axis of the shaft 49 so that the arc through which the lamp may be extinguished may be varied to suitably adapt the lamp for satisfactory operation when mounted upon a vehicle.

l. A spot light holder and moving means, comprising a fixture for securement to a fixed sup,port;'a second fixture rotatably mounted on the first recited fixture for'rotation in a horizontal direction; a third fixture rotatably' mount-ed on the second fixture lfor rotation in a vertical direction; a'shait having a knob distantly related to` the'said third fixture; ,a gear selector operable by said knob and shaft; a driving gear for effecting a vertical direction .of thespot light; a second gear operable in conjunction with the first gear for effecting a horizontal direction of the spot light; and a resilient band having a tension device to provide relative .slippage of one of the gear moved fixtures relative to its driving gear. 'l

2. Spot light supporting and adjusting means comprising a supporting fixture; a rotatable collar mounted on said fixture; a drive gear1 Within said collar and fastened thereto; a ring'g-earextending around a portionof said collar; atrigger mounted to rotate with said drive gear; said: trigger being adjusted Y (ifi to connect and disconnect .said drive gear and ring gear; a spring tending to move said trigger into position to connect said gears; and a slidable drive shaft adapted to slide into and out of position for rotating each of said gears independently of the other, said drive shaft being provided With means to move said trigger against .the opposition of its spring out of the gear connecting position, one of said Ygears being operatively connected With the spot light to rotate it in one plane, and the other of said gears being operatively connected therewith to rotate it in another plane.

3. Y Spot light supporting and adjusting means comprising a turret fixture, a collar supported by said fixture and rotatable about` a vertical axis; a horizontal drive gear fitted into the lower end of said collar and fixed thereto; a floating ring gear having a Working fit around said drive gear and collar; a trigger extending diametrically of said collar and mounted to rotate With said drive gear to slide transversely thereof, said trigger. being being adapted to connect and to disconnect said drive gear and ring gear; a spring tending to move said trigger into position to connect said gears, and a slidable drive shaft adapted to slide into and out of a position for rotating each of said gears independently of the other, said drive shaft being provided with a cam portion whereby during its movement into position for rotating said drive gear, it moves said trigger against the opposition of its spring out of the gear connecting position, one of said gears being operatively connected With the spot light to rotate it about a substantially vertical axis, and the other of said gears being operatively connected With the spot light to rock it about a substantially horizontal axis. f

4. In a device of the character described, a body portion; a flat ground ring secured in the body portion, the ring being vertically coaxial With the body portion'and having a cutout portion therein; a spot light connected With an electric circuit and rotatably mounted in the body portion; a ground 'brush connected with the spot light and contacting the surface of the ground ringso as to beV adapted to snap into the cut-out portion andthereby to `open the circuit When the spot light'is in a ycertain predetermined position relative to the body portion;

5. In a device of the character described, a

body portion, a flat ground ring adjustably secured to the body portion, the ring being virtually co-axial With the body portion and having aout-out portion therein; a spot light connected With an electric circuit and rotatably mounted in the body portion; a ground brush connected with the spot light and contacting the surface of the ground ring so as to be adapted to snap into the cut-'out portion and thereby to open the circuit when the spot the body portion, the ring being virtually coaxial with the body portion and having a cutout portion therein; a spot light connected l with an electric circuit; a lamp-supporting fixture secured to the spot light and mounted in the body portion so as to be rotatablel on an axis co-axial with the body portion and on an axis virtually at right angles tothe axis of the body portion; a contact plate secured in the ixture so as to be rotatable Vtherewith on the right-angular axis, the plate having a cut-out portion therein; a ground brush connected With the spot light and respectively contacting the ground ring and kthe con,- tact plate so as Yto be adapted Vto snap into the respective cut-out portions of the ring and the plate and thereby to open the circuit when the spot light is in a certain predetermined position relativet-o thebody portion.

7. In a device of the character described, a body portion; a flat ground ring secured in the body portion, the ring being virtually coaxial With the body portion and having a cutout portion therein; a'spot light connected With an electric circuit; a lamp-supporting fixture secured to the spot light and mounted in the body portion so as to be rotatable on an axis co-axial With the body portion and on an axis virtually at right angles to the axis of the body portion; a contact plate adjustably secured in the fixture so as to be rotatable therewith on the right-angular axis, the plate having a cut-out portion therein; a ground brush connected With the spot light and respectively contacting the ground ring` and the contact plate so as to be adapted to snap into the respective cut-out portions of the ring and the plate and thereby to open the circuit when the spot light is in a certain predetermined position relative to the body portion. f

. 8. In a device of the character described, a body portion; a -spot light mounted in the body portion so as to be rotatable on an axis virtually at right angles to the axis of the body portion; and means for holding lthe spotlight in a balanced position on the body portion.

9. In a device of the character described, a body portion; atspot light mounted in the body portion so as' to be rotatable on an axis virtually at right angles'to'the laxis of the body portion; and opposing springs connected with the spot light and arranged so as to hold thespot light in a balanced position onthefbody. l

10. In a device of the character described, a body portion; a spot light mounted in the body portion so as to be rotatable on an axis virtually at right angles to the axis of the' body portion; opposing springs connected with the spot light and arranged so as to hold the spot light in a balanced position on the body portion; and adjustable means for regulating the tension of the springs.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set o my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 28th day of November, 1927.

JOHN K. RUSSELL. 

